The budget deficit is taking its toll on agriculture programs. The House Appropriations Committee approved a spending bill last night that includes major cuts to food safety and nutrition programs, as well as an amendment that would end direct farm payments for those with adjusted gross income over $250,000 per year. The appropriations bill also includes cuts in research, food …
FarmVille Fanatics to Plant Real Crops
The top players of the popular on-line game FarmVille will get a taste of reality as they leave the virtual farm this month to plant a real fruit orchard in the real town of Farmville, Virginia – courtesy of Edy’s Fruit Bars. The new orchard in Farmville, VA commemorates a branded integration between Edy’s Fruit Bars and FarmVille. From June …
AgriSafe Network Seeking Partners for Farm Safety
Most everyone knows what a dangerous occupation farming can be, but the AgriSafe Network does something about it, and safety product companies can help. The AgriSafe Network is a national nonprofit organization that represents health professionals who provide agricultural occupational health and safety services to farmers and their families. To help out with this mission, AgriSafe has developed a social …
Missouri Ag Helps Tornado Victims
Like so many others in this state, Missouri farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses are doing what they can to help the victims of the tornado in Joplin. In less than 24 hours yesterday, the Missouri Department of Agriculture collected more than $19,000 in donations for relief efforts. Staff members from the Missouri Department of Agriculture spearheaded a donation drive for the …
Ag Industry Celebrates Life of Lindsay Hill
Family, friends and farmer fans are missing a bright light in the agriculture industry whose life was cut short in an accident last week. But as hundreds came to pay their respects at the memorial services for Lindsay Hill this week, they celebrated her brief but stellar career and passion for life. “Friends have gathered to pay their last respects …
Ag Groups Call For Trade Agreement Approval
Since May is both World Trade Month and National Beef Month, it was appropriate for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) to host a news conference on Capitol Hill today urging the Obama administration to send pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to Congress immediately. NCBA was joined by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), American …
Farm Bureau Estimates Flooded Farm Acres at Over 3.5 Million
The American Farm Bureau Federation is estimating that nearly 3.6 million acres of farmland in the southern United States have been impacted by flooding, including about 40 percent of the rice crop. AFBF received flood damage estimates from individual state Farm Bureaus in the affected areas. Arkansas topped the list with a million acres affected, including 300,000 acres of rice …
Waiting for GIPSA
It’s been 11 months since it was first published and six months since the comment period ended, but it will be several more months yet before USDA makes a decision on the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule. “There were 66,000 comments, about 30,000 of which are unique,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told an agriculture committee meeting …
Lindsay Hill Memorial Information
As the shock of the news that NAFB president Lindsay Hill died in an auto accident Thursday continues to be felt throughout the agriculture industry, information about her funeral service and memorial has now been made available. According to NAFB, visitation hours will be from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm Eastern time Monday, May 23 and again from 12:00 noon …
Changes at Brownfield Ag News
Brownfield Ag News has announced a couple of major changes today. First, Dave Russell is the Farm Director of the new Brownfield Ohio Ag News Radio Network. “Having the opportunity to go back to my home state is exciting,” said Russell. “I’m looking forward to helping build Brownfield Ohio, but even more, I’m looking forward to telling Ohio’s tremendous agricultural …